Strip feeding device



Nov. 22, 1955 J. T. DAVIDSON STRIP FEEDING DEVICE Filed May 13, 1952 I INVENTOR. H JOHN 7' DAVIDSON E J BY 2,724,279 Patented Nov. 22, 1955 STRIP FEEDING DEVICE John T. Davidson, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to The Standard Register Company, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Application May 13, 1952, Serial No. 287,549

Claims. (Cl. 74-243) This invention relates to pin type strip feeding devices,

particularly as used in the feeding of continuous, series connected marginally perforated record forms. The invention has special reference to pin feed devices wherein the pins may be simultaneously retracted or extended, such devices being mounted on a rotary shaft, and rendered alternatively effective and ineffective. Thus, a number of such devices may be mounted on a shaft, with each device being individually adjustable so that some may be made ineffective and others effective, in accordance with the width of the record forms being fed.

The object of the invention is to simplify the construc tion as well as the means and mode of operation of strip feeding devices, whereby such devices may not only be economically manufactured, but will be more efficient and satisfactory in use, adaptable to a wide variety of applications, having relatively few parts and be unlikely to get out of repair.

A further object of the invention is to adapt devices of the kind described for a more facile and eflicient use in connection with trimmer means for removing the perforate margins of the strip.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown in Fig. 1 an assembled strip feeding device embodying the present invention, mounted on a rotary shaft 10. The feeding device comprises a smooth surfaced, relatively broad, body 11 having a through longitudinal bore 12. At one end thereof the body is reduced in diameter to define a shoulder 13.

Opening into the bore 12 is an internal, circumferential groove 14. A substantially rectangular key member is longitudinally disposed in the bore 12 and has a tang 16 received in the groove 14. The key member 15 is itself bodily received in a longitudinal key Way 17 in Another object of the invention is to provide a positive means for effecting quick movements of the feeding pins, along radial lines, to and from projecting or effective position.

A further object of the invention is to present a generally new retractable pin type feed device, especially characterized by a novel means for mounting and controlling the feeding pins.

A further object of the invention is to provide a strip feeding device of the character described, possessing the advantageous structural features, the inherent meritorious characteristics and the mode of operation herein described.

With the above primary and other incidental objects in view as will more fully appear in the specification, the invention intended to be protected by Letters Patent consists of the features of construction, the parts and combinations thereof, and the mode of operation, as hereinafter described or illustrated in the accompanying drawings, or their equivalents.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown the preferred but obviously not necessarily the only form of embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation of a pin wheel unit in accordance with the instant invention;

Fig. 2 is a view like Fig. l, but at a smaller scale and with the feeding pins retracted;

Fig. 3 is an end view of thepin wheel unit of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an end view of the pin wheel unit, partly broken away, taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a view in cross section, taken substantially along the line 5--5 of Fig. 6 and showing another form of assembly of the actuating cams; and

. Fig. 6 is a view in longitudinal section taken substantially along the line 6-6 of Fig. 3.

the shaft 10. A radial opening 18 in the body 11 mounts a set screw 19 which is adjustable to bear against the key member 15 and so resist rotary motion of the body relative to the member 15. Since the member 15 is keyed to the shaft 10 relative rotary motion of the body with respect to shaft 10 is also resisted. By reason of the entry of tang 16 in the groove 14, no relative longitudinal motion between the body 11 and member 15 upon the shaft 10 inhibits relative longitudinal motion between the body and the shaft.

At its base end, the projecting shoulder 13 of the body 11 is formed with a circumferential series of radial holes 21, merging with radial slots 22 in the adjoining end face of the body 11. The slots 22 are rounded, as continuations of the holes 21, and represent slideways for tapered nose pins 23 mounted therein. Cut in one side surface of the pins 23 are intersecting angular slots 24 and 25, the pins 23 being installed in the slots 22 with the slots 24 and 25 facing outward. There is mounted on the shoulder 13 a ring shaped collar or plate 26 and a locking ring 27, the latter being received in a circumferential groove 28 in the shoulder and holding the plate 26 adjacent to the slotted end face of the body 11. On the inner side face of the plate 26 is a circumferential series of inflexible, arcuate ribs 29 (Fig. 6), received in the grooves 24 or 25 in respective pins 23. The pins 23 are thus in effect mounted between the end of the body 11 and the plate 26. They are, moreover, operatively connected to the plate 26, through the ribs 29, in such manner that relative rotary movement between the plate 26 and the body 11 results in an axial motion of the pins 23 in the slots 22.

The inner edge of the plate 26 is formed with a pair of spaced apart notches 31 and 32 (Fig. 4). Extending into overlying contact with such inner edge of plate 26, for alternative cooperative engagement with the notches 31 and 32, is a spring arm 33. The key member 15 has a longitudinal cut out portion 34 in which the inner end of the arm 33 is anchored. The other end of the arrn 33 extends, with the key member 15, through a slot 35 in the shoulder 13. The spring arm is tensioned in a direction to bear on the inner edge of the plate 26 and the outer extremity thereof is formed with a lip 36 whereby the arm may more readily be manually lifted out of engagement with the notches 31 and 32. With the arm 33 engaged in one or the other of the notches 31 and 32, the plate 26 is locked to the body 11 for unison rotation therewith. The pins 23, moreover, are locked in whatever position they have been caused to assume by adjustment of the plate 26.

Thus, with the parts positioned as seen in Figs. 2 and 4,

wherein the arm 33 is located in notch 32, the pins 23 are Withdrawn in the slots 22 and holes 21 with the outer ends of the pins lying beneath the surface of the body 11. Now, if the arm 33 is released from the notch 32, and the plate 26 turned to bring notch 31 in alignment with arm 33, the accomplished relative motion of the plate 26 serves to shift the pins 23 simultaneously outward "in the slots 22 'to the'proje'cted position of Figs. 1, 3, and 6. If.the..arm .33..then. is permitted to descend into the notch 31, the parts will be locked in this adjusted position.

The ribs 29 of Figs. 5 and 6 are brazed or otherwise secured to the plate 26 in anintegralmanner. They may be assembled in other ways, however, for example as shown in Fig. 4. Here ribs 29 corresponding to the ribs 29, are formed with lugs 37 having a tight fit in holes 38 in a plate 26 corresponding to the plate 26.

In diameter the plate 26 or'26a is equal to the diameter of the body 11 and in effect is a continuation thereof, on the 'opposite side of the pins 23. The surfaces of both the body 11 and plate 26 are smooth whereby rotary slitters, often used in conjunction with pin type feeding devices, may have a bearing directly on the feeding device, and on eitherside of the feeding pins. Discs of the kind described usually are round and have a knife-like periphery, which engages the strip in the vicinity of its marginal perforations, functioning to separate a part of the marginal-sides' of the stripsfrom the main body thereof as the strip is advanced by the feeding mechanism.

Reference is made to copending applications, Serial Nos. 138,226 and 138,233, filed January 12, 1950, now matured into Letters Patents Nos. 2,663,196 and 2,663,197, respectively, and also application Serial No. 287,550,-filed of even date herewith, for a disclosure of other structures of similar nature.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thusprovided a device of the character described possessing the particular features of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but which obviously is susceptible of modification inits form, proportions, detail construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the principle involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

While in order to comply with the statute the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structure features, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosed comprise but one of several modes of putting the invention into effect.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A pin type strip feeding device wherein a series of feeding pins are adjustably mounted for simultaneous movement into and out of operative position, including a cylindrical body having a reduced diameter shoulder at one end thereof, a circumferential series of radial slots in the end of said body adjacent said shoulder, pins in said slots, a collar rotatably mounted on said shoulder, and interacting cam means between said collar and said pins effecting an axial movement of said pins in said slots in response to a relative turning motion of said collar.

2. A pin type strip feeding device wherein a series of feeding pins are adjustably mounted for simultaneous movement into and out of operative position, including a cylindrical body having a reduced diameter shoulder at one end thereof, a circumferential series of radial slots in the end of said body adjacent said shoulder, pins in said slots, a collar rotatably mounted on said shoulder, a circumferential series of curved actuator elements on said collar, and transverse inclined slots in said pins receiving said actuator elements and cooperating therewith to retract and to extend said pins axially in said radial slots.

3. A pin type strip feeding device wherein a series of feeding pins are adjustably mounted for simultaneous movement into and out of operative position, including a cylindrical body having a reduced diameter shoulder at one end thereof, a circumferential series of radial slots in the end of said body and adjacent said shoulder, pins in said slots, a collar rotatably mounted on said shoulder adjacent to said pins, said collar having a side surface facing the sides of said pins, a circumferential series of inflexible arcuate projections on said side surface of said collar, complementary grooves. in the sides of said pins receiving said. projections, and detent means defining ro- 411; tative positions of adjustment for said collar relatively to said body..

4. A strip feeding device according to claim 3, characterized in that the diameter-of said collar is equal to the diameter of said body so that said coilar functions in effect as an extension of said body, whereby strip trimmer discs or the like may bear directly upon the feeding device on either side of said pins.

5. A pin type strip feeding device wherein a series of feeding pins are adjustably mounted for simultaneous movement into and out of operative. position, including a cylindrical body having a reduced diameter shoulder at one end thereof, a collar rotatably mounted on said shoulder adjacent to the said one end of said body, a circumferential series of feeding pins mounted between said collar and said body to project radially above the surface of said body, and interacting portions on said collar and said pins for retracting said pins beneath the surface of said body in response to relative movement between said collar and said body in one direction.

6. A strip feeding device according to claim 5, characterized in that the diameter of said collar is equal to the.

diameter of said body so that said collar functions in effect. as an extension of said body, whereby strip trimmer discs or the like may bear directly upon the feeding device on either side of said pins.

7. A pin type strip feeding device wherein a series of feeding pins are adjustably mounted for simultaneous.

movement into and out of operative position, including a cylindrical body having longitudinal through bore, a key member within said body, a radial set screw in said body extending into the interior thereof to engage said key member, a collar rotatably mounted on said body at one end thereof, feeding pins mounted between said collar and said body, interengaging means on said pins and said collar adjus lg said pins by movement of said collar relative to said body, and a spring arm anchored to said key member and extcndiui into cooperative relation with said collar to hold said coliar normally against motion relative to said body.

8. A strip feeding device according to claim '7, characterized by a plurality of spaced apart notches in the inner edge of said collar, said spring arm extending into cooperative relation with said inner edge and engaging said notches selectively in response to rotary adjustment of said collar, said spring arm being normally released from a notch to permit such rotary adjustment of said collar.

9. A pin type strip feeding device wherein a series of feeding pins are adjustably mounted for simultaneous movement into and out of operative position, including a body presenting a relatively long cylindrical strip supporting surface and having at one end thereof a wallet right angles to said surface, a circumferential series of radial slideways in said wall opening through said surface, .pins in said slideways and having side portions projecting through the open sides of said slideways, a collar rotatably mounted on said body, and interengaging portions on said collar and the projecting sides of said pins providing for an axial movement of said pins in said slideways in response to relative rotary motion of said collar.

10. A pin type strip feeding device according to claim 9, characterized in that said interengaging portions comprise angular siots in said pins and inflexible arcuate ribs on said' collar engaged in said slots, said collar being mounted in spaced relation to said wall in a manner to confine said pins in said .slideways.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 45,359 Sutter Dec. 6, 1864 598,654 Cleland M Feb. 8,1898 639,002 Titus Dec. 12; 1,899 2,599,648 Lanegan June 10, 19,52 

